Jay Johnston: Hollywood actor jailed for role in US Capitol riots on January 6 | US News

A Hollywood actor best known for his roles in “Anchorman” and “Mr. Show” was convicted for his role in the riots at the US Capitol on January 6th.

Jay Johnston, who also had supporting roles in “Arrested Development” and “Bob's Burgers,” was sentenced Monday to 12 months and one day in federal prison.

The 56-year-old from Chicago was arrested in June 2023 and pleaded guilty in July to a felony count of obstructing officers during a disturbance.

He was dropped as the main voice in “Bob's Burgers” long before the legal consequences of his involvement.

Federal prosecutors, who had sought an 18-month sentence, included in their sentencing memorandum a photo of him “dressed as Jacob Chansley, known as the 'QAnon Shaman,'” at a Halloween party two years after the attack.

Prosecutors said Johnston spent about 10 minutes on Jan. 6, 2021, in the lower west tunnel leading into the Capitol.

During that time, he was accused of helping “at least four other rioters” wash out their eyes after being pepper-sprayed.

He was also accused of using a stolen riot shield to create a “wall of protection” against police and of being involved in a “heave-ho” push in which police officer Daniel Hodges was thrown into a door frame.

Johnston “sent messages to friends and family in the days following Jan. 6 claiming Events at the US Capitol were exaggerated by the media,” prosecutors added.

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Attorney Stanley Woodward, representing Johnston, said the government had “persistently overstated” his client's role in the attack “because he is an acclaimed Hollywood actor.”

In a sentencing memo, Mr. Woodward wrote that Johnston “could not make a living as an actor” and that he had been “essentially blacklisted by Hollywood.”

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More than 1,500 people were arrested in connection with this Attack on the Capitol, 1,100 of them were convicted.

More than 600 of those convicted received sentences ranging from a few days behind bars to 22 years in federal prison.